40 Shades of Grey BOM

I am doing a new BOM called 40 Shades of Grey

It comes in a kit every month, So far I have 2 months.

Not sure I will do it this way again. I would rather just have all the material and cut it myself.

These four blocks are called Criss-Cross Blocks

They are 11" blocks. Working with diagonal blocks to the square center takes a bit of coordination, making sure each set is turned the correct direction. Two of the white fabrics have writing on them, so trying to decide if they should be directional or random was a challenge. 

This block is called Pineapple. It is 17" and was a different challenge. I like the way it turned out. 

And this block is called Lightening. It is 19" square and will be the center block  of the quilt.

I misread the cutting instructions and cut one of the sets of squares at 3 1/8 instead of 3 7/8, so I had to do some fussy matching. I think it turned out okay though. This is one reason I would like to have the whole piece of fabric instead of small pieces. I could not just cut new block.

Next month will be Log Cabin variations, so I will have to pay close attention to my cutting instructions.

Basting...

I have mostly been basting quilts the past few days.  I will quilt them on my sit down Juki Long arm gradually over the next few months. 

First on my quilting list is for grand baby boy.  I used a different backing that worries me.  It was the perfect size and color but isn't the normal cotton back I would use.  I hope I don't regret it.

I fully intended to put a cute car fabric on the back, but it wasn't quite big enough.  I have so much leftover fabric pieces I thought I would make another baby quilt out of them and put the cars on the back of it instead.

Memory Round Robin is basted now.

This one from a family round robin is nearly quilted.  Seriously an hour or so and I will have it.

School kid barns is small and shouldn't take long.  The blocks were a result of a class I taught at school.

My Dear Jane has been basted for many months.  It scares me a little bit to quilt because it is such a treasure with those 4 1/2" blocks.

I currently have my block lotto winner's quilt on the floor sizing it up to piece the back.  It will be basted next.

I am pretty excited to realize that I only have three more tops of mine ready to baste and one for my sister-in-law.  After many years of finished tops waiting to be quilted, this is quite an accomplishment!

Here are bindings read to go or ready to sew.

To Do Tuesday:

I hope this week to get one more basted, bindings made, and trucks quilted and bound.  With a little luck I will finish quilting Periwinkle as well.  It will depend on baby's arrival.

15 Minutes to Stitch Report

I am linking up today with:

BOMs Away
To Do Tuesday
Monday Making
Main Crush Monday
Moving it Forward Monday

Top is done!

It has been too long since I have had any sort of finish.  This cute top for my grand son is now ready for quilting.

I am linking up today with:

Beauty Pageant of Finishes
Finished or Not
Wednesday Wait Loss
Friday Foto Fun - she is hosting a super cute QAL starting in August!  Check it out!
TGIFF

15 minutes to stitch report...

I am currently 100% for July.  It feels good to be back on track for my sewing goals. Being gone the entire month of June really killed my numbers but oh was it fun!

I generally sew on my Juki because of its industrial speed, but it only does a straight stitch.  I had to break out the Bernina this week for blanket stitch applique' and lettering on my Arizona Trek quilt.  I did trucks (see previous post), cow eyes, and dog noses.

These dogs will have button eyes.

Here is the code for my Arizona quilt along with some dates I added for our hiking and biking.

Here is the entire quilt thus far for those of you who have not seen or heard about it.  You can read about the story of this quilt here.

I have spent this week playing with my sweet grand daughter.  She is so easy and barely two.  She loves shoes - even Grandpa's.

She taught me that my front door is magnetic.  She has been rearranging my sewing room magnets from room to room.

Here is my 15 minutes to stitch report for the week.

I am also linking up with:

BOMs Away
MCM
Monday Making
Wips on Wednesday
Moving it Forward Monday
UFO Busting

Trucks and Tractors!

My new grand baby is getting this fun quilt when he arrives!  I still need to applique the wheels and buckets down, but it is coming along nicely.  Buggy Barn patters are a BLAST!  This one is out of print and can no longer be purchased.

This quilt will be larger than a baby size, but my daughter is great with it.  It will be about 48" x 60" without borders.  It will be great for a big boy bed in a couple of years.

I am linking up with:

BOM's Away

Moving it Forward Monday

Main Crush Monday

Monday Making
Esther's WOW

Busy June but still sewing!

I spent most of June away from home but still managed to sew a wopping 68% of the days.  It has certainly been my slowest sewing month yet, but it has been a blast.

So far, I have spent my July moving my sewing room from an unfinished corner of the basement to fresh painted room upstairs.  The paint color I chose was called "Intimate White" but it is a very pale pink.  I love it!  My sewing quarters are tight but plenty big enough for me.  My rule is that everything sewing must fit in this space, so I can't buy more than will fit in it.

The table in the photo below is removable.  

I have a huge window that still needs blinds fitted.

The white drawers under the table are on wheels and mobile.

I spray painted my plastic totes white, gold, and pink to match.


I have lots of storage even if it is a bit cozy.  I hope to get projects finished and gradually reduce cabinets.

The shelf under my long arm was black.  I painted it pink from left over wall paint.  My Juki Longarm barely fit into the closet space.  The only tops I have completed and not basted or quilted are hanging in the closet.

Here is an update on 15 Minutes to Stitch!  I will be linking up there.

Here is an update on my PHD report.  Yes, I am behind.

I am linking up with:

Friday Foto Fun
Wednesday Wait Loss

Another bag and visiting family

I finished 3 more New York Beauties  yesterday.  I think I have 12 more  to be done.

I visited my daughters, grand babies, parents,  and siblings this week as well.  Family is everything! I just wish they lived closer.

I also made another bag.  I used the handles and hard ware off another bag for this one.  I love it! 

Ann: Graduation and Ruffled Roses

 The Ruffled Roses top from 2011 is now quilted, bound and delivered.

My friend Margaret did the quilting on her long arm. She was going out of town with her daughters and granddaughters, so did it quickly. Unfortunately when she got home her basement was flooded, so we were both so happy that she had taken the time to do it before she left, because her long arm machine is in her basement.

 This is the center section of the quilt. Lots of piecing and applique went into it.

 Oops, the tag is upside down, sorry

And here is our graduate, Kylie. She is number six of thirteen grandchildren.

Back in 2011, while I was working on the quilt, I spent a long weekend with the kids while their parents went to Las Vegas to run in a Ragnor Relay. I worked on the quilt while I was there and she sat right by me and watched me sew.

Kylie graduated from Northridge High School yesterday, with High Honors. She will attend Weber State University in the fall, but next week she will be taking a CNA class and then will probably work in an assisted living center this summer.

She is our Ice Skating Queen and will got to the national competition in Wenachee Washington in the fall. Last year she took second place over-all in Chicago.